Puppies should be given clear leadership and guidance from the start, with clear boundaries and an understanding that humans are in control. This does not mean harshness or rigidity, but rather that the human must oversee every aspect of the puppy's life so they can comprehend it. Play, food, toys, and access to valuable items should be carefully managed so that the puppy can understand who is in charge of the family. Australian shepherds can be more reserved and sometimes become fearful, which can lead to behaviors such as fear biting.
Like many herding dogs, Australian shepherds are naturally loyal to their family but distant with strangers. They need early socialization and exposure to a variety of people, sights, sounds, and experiences when they are young. Having a good knowledge of the basic characteristics of the breed can help owners of Australian shepherds prepare and train their dog to be the best possible companion. Dogs come in all sizes, from the smallest dog in the world, the Chihuahua, to the imposing Great Dane. The amount of space a dog takes up is an important factor in determining if they are compatible with you and your living space.
Teach your child never to approach any dog while eating or sleeping or try to take food away from them. The results showed that compared to dogs wearing a placebo collar, dogs with a DAP collar were less afraid and had longer and more positive interactions with other puppies during class. Dogs bred for jobs that require decision-making, intelligence, and concentration such as herding cattle need to exercise their brains just like dogs bred to run around need to exercise their bodies. The current literature and common consensus among experts in canine behavior suggest that inadequate socialization during the sensitive period as well as inadequate and continuous socialization throughout the dog's life greatly influence whether or not the dog develops behavioral problems. A well-socialized dog is likely to show fewer undesirable behaviors as an adult which is a common reason why the bond between dog and owner is broken and dogs are sent to shelters.
In a recent workshop held in the United Kingdom by experts on companion dog welfare it was recommended that inadequate breeding, lack of owner knowledge, undesirable behaviors, and inadequate socialization are welfare issues of strategic priority when investing resources to improve companion dog wellbeing. Once they reach their full adult size they should slowly switch to a high-quality adult diet or a high-performance diet if they have excessively high energy demands such as working dogs or dogs that accompany owners on long fitness routines like running or hiking. Dog owners may lack adequate knowledge about dog socialization practices and canine behavior as well as what constitutes the basic needs of a dog. An Australian handler has to find different ways to show his dog right from wrong ways that allow him to comply with the owner's wishes instead of avoiding discomfort. Today the Australian Shepherd is still the same flashy energetic and intelligent dog that proved so useful to ranchers and farmers in the Old West. Australian shepherds are medium-sized dogs very intelligent and active with natural herding instincts and a muscular agile constitution.
They also thrive on advanced training exercises and fun dog sports so be prepared to invest a lot of time and money in their training. Considering that most dogs are kept as pets it is important that these dogs are raised in a way that ensures they adapt easily to this particular lifestyle.
